As part of our series on how to ‘buy Irish’ online for Christmas 2022, here are 10 Irish bookshop businesses to check out for festive gift ideas.
In this series we will be looking at Irish books, food, drinks, fashion, beauty, sports, toys and health that can be bought online as well as offline for Christmas 2021.
With an estimated 70pc of online shopping purchases made overseas, it is vital we support Irish SMEs.
You simply cannot go wrong with books at Christmas so consider checking out what these Irish book shops have online this Christmas:
Alan Hanna’s Bookshop
One of Dublin’s best known independent bookshops, Adam Hanna’s bookshop in Rathmines specialises in Irish literature and history and also boasts an academic text book section, bestsellers, art, travel, fiction, drama and more.
Antonia’s Bookstore
Antonia’s Bookstore opened its doors in 2005 in the beautiful heritage town of Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland. It stocks a large range of books, stationery, greeting cards and art and craft sets.
Books Upstairs
Describing itself as one of Dublin’s oldest independent bookshops, Books Upstairs on D’Olier Street, Books Upstairs was first opened in May 1978 by Maurice Earls and Enda O’Doherty. The stock focused on literature, history and politics, but also introduced previously absent or underrepresented genres and authors to Ireland, stocking philosophy, literary criticism, psychology, feminism and gay literature. “Encouraging the circulation of ideas was an early objective that we persist in these 40+ years later,” the site states proudly.
Bookstation
Irish-owned and operated since 1985, Bookstation has more than 18 stores around Ireland. As well as books its sells social and business stationery along with party goods, craft and greeting cards.
Charlie Byrne’s Books
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop is one of Ireland’s best-loved independent bookshops and is located in the heart of Galway City. Explore its labyrinthine maze of more than 100,000 books: new, second-hand, bargain and antiquarian.
Dubray
What began as a single shop in the seaside town of Bray in 1973 owned by Helen Clear, Dubray Books has grown to stores in Grafton Street, Dundrum, Cork, Rathmines, Stillorgan, Galway, Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire, Liffey Valley and Henry Street. Each store boasts up to 15,000 titles and deliveries within Ireland occur within two to three working days with free delivery on orders over €20.
Eason
Ireland’s biggest book chain Eason features a multitude of book titles, stationery, games and gifts across all genres. It offers free delivery on orders over €10.
The Gutter Bookshop
An independent bookshop based in Dublin, it’s original store opened on Cow’s Lane in Temple Bar in 2009 and a second shop opened in Dalkey in 2013. The store aims to provide book buyers something different from the mainstream and “something new and exciting that you’ll struggle to uncover on a internet bookshop search.”
Kennys.ie
A Galway institution and one of the first businesses in Ireland to embrace e-commerce, Kennys has almost 1m new, used/second-hand and rare books available online. It offers free delivery within Ireland on all orders and ships books worldwide to more than 120 countries annually.
The Winding Stair
buy A bookshop and restaurant, the Winding Stair Bookshop is one of the oldest surviving independent bookshops in Dublin. As well as unusual books not normally stocked in mainstream bookshops, it has an extensive range of fiction, including Irish authors, poetry, drama, current affairs, gardening, cookery, art and design, humour, non-fiction and a brilliant children’s section. They also stock literary magazines, zines, and have several beautiful card ranges, notebooks and tote bags.
Main image at top: Photo by Madara Parma on Unsplash
